Chapter 12: Astyanax and Iphigenia
They all landed, screaming, on a small patch of grass.
"Where are we?" Ron asked.
"I am not sure." Hermione answered. She looked around and almost immediately saw a large citadel about a mile away.
"Welcome to Sparta, my friends. Around the year 1250 BC. Home of Menelaus and Helen, King and Queen of Sparta. This, however, is not our destination." Astyanax pointed along a nearby road and, just then, a procession came up. Three men on horseback led it. The rider on the left was immediately recognized.
"Astyanax!" several shouted.
"Is that really you, Professor?" one named Cho Chang asked him.
"Yes, Cho. That is I, aged 16. The rider in the middle is my father, Hector of Troy, and the rider on the right is my uncle, Paris."
(Author's Note: The pensieve flashbacks will continue from Astyanax's point of view from that time period. The modern Asytanax's narrations will be in Italics.)
Optional Song: Evacuating London - Track 2 of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrode Soundtrack.
We were on our way to Sparta to negotiate a peace treaty between Troy and Sparta. At least my father and my uncle were. I wanted to continue north to explore Greece and see Mycenae, the richest and most powerful of the Greek citadels.
The procession stopped at a fork in the road. "My son, from here our paths split. Follow this road and you will reach Mycenae in two days. Here is some gold. Use it to hire a ship to Troy when you are ready to return." Hector handed his son a sack of gold coins.
"Thank you, father." Astyanax said with much excitement. "I only plan to visit Mycenae and explore the surronding countryside. I should not be too long. A week, two at the most."
"I trust you, Astyanax." They hugged and bade farewell.
"Farewell, uncle." Asytanax said to Paris.
"May good fortune be with you, Asytanax." he replied.
"May good fortune be with you and your mission, father, uncle. Yaah!" Astyanax yelled to his horse and they left at a gallop.
I traveled along that road to Mycenae for two days, exploring the countryside as I went. Near Mycenae, I stopped at a river for a drink.
(Song Ends)
Astyanax took a handful of water and drank from it. Just then, his horse galloped up the river.
"Oh no." Astyanax ran after it and found it further up the river, a young girl petting it.
"Oh, hello." the beautiful girl said to Astyanax. "Is this your horse?"
"Yes, thank you very much."
"You're a Trojan, aren't you?" the girl asked him.
"How can you tell?" Astyanax asked her.
"From the horse symbol on your armor." She pointed to it. "Are you Prince Hector?"
Astyanax was too mesmorized by this girl's beauty that he didn't answer at first.
The girl tilted her head playfully and looked into his eyes. "Is anyone in there?" She then knocked on his helmet.
"Uhhh. Ah. No. I am his son, Astyanax."
"Hee hee hee. Well, it is very nice to meet you, Astyanax. I am Iphigenia. Princess of Mycenae."
"You're Agamemnon's daughter?"
"I am indeed."
"Well, it is very nice to meet you and thanks for catching my horse."
"You're welcome but it's strange. He stopped once he came to me." Iphigenia told him.
"Odd indeed." Astyanax said.
"Come. Sit with me." Iphigenia bade him. "Please tell me about your city. I have always wanted to see Troy but I am not allowed to go too far from Mycenae."
"Well, I suppose I will start from the beginning." Astyanax said to her. "Troy was founded many years ago by Dardanus, an Italian and the son of Zeus and Electra. I am descended from him."
Astyanax told her much about his city and his family, his father Hector, his mother Andromache, his grandparents King Priam and Queen Hecuba, etc. They sat there for hours and soon it started to get dark.
"Oh no." Iphigenia said. "It's getting dark. I should be heading back. Do you have anyplace to stay tonight, Astyanax?"
"I was planning on camping outside the city." Astyanax replied.
"Oh no, Astyanax. That will not do." She said with almost motherly devotion. "You must stay with us as our guest. My father won't mind."
"I don't wish to be a burden, Iphigenia."
"Oh, please, Astyanax. I insist."
"Well, if you insist, my most hospitable princess."